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Topic: Located in the Mendips, want to join a local club (Read 3364 times)

Hi, I moved to a village near Cheddar about 2 years ago and have been meaning to join a local club for a while. I haven't caved for quite a few years and would still class myself as a novice. I would rather join a club that is active mid week.Thanks for any advice.Gary

The most obvious local club is Cheddar Caving Club, there's also the Axbridge Caving Group and up on the hills at Priddy is the Wessex Cave Club, the Mendip Cave Group, the Bristol Exploration Club, the Shepton Mallet Caving Club, and slightly further a-field are the Mendip Nature Research Committee and the Cerberus Speleological Society.

Mid week (Wednesday) is traditionally diggers' night and many clubs will be trying to fool you into joining their insane gruelling hell hole slavedom. You might like that kind of thing (I love it!) but perhaps what you're really looking for is some joyous and non-threatening sports trips. You might want to get involved in going to nice places, doing photographs and musing on how best to write a prize winning trip report.

The Cheddar is the obvious choice. They are friendly and welcoming with plenty of midweek trips. See http://cheddar-caving-club.org.uk . Contact details are on the "Join Us" page. Drop the member co-ordinator an email or come along to the White Heart, 3rd Sunday of each month at 8pm (check diary page).

I might just plug another local club - Bristol And District Caving Club. Nice little active club with members who tend to have weekend commitments, but get out midweek for some caving and pub time. Run to keep costs minimal for members.

Thanks all, some useful information. I'm probably more keen to explore underground than digging at this stage, I've heard quite a lot about the many caves, walked by the entrances but not ventured into them. I'm definitely looking for a club which has a regular week night where there are 'kind' willing people to let me accompany them exploring the local caves.

Does each club (sounds like I'm spoilt for choice!) have a particular night for 'non-digging' adventures?

B&DCC generally alternate between Tues and Weds each week, mild amount of structure allows individuals to make childcare arrangements etc... i.e. Generally organise themselves to be available.We have a schedule of dates published to members - if nothing is noted against a date, it's fair game to grab it and make a suggestion to suit your tastes

Another good choice is Frome Caving Group- meets are at the hunters, first Monday of the month, with trips then arranged for the Monday evenings for the month. This means trips are available every week.